The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American Pharmacists Association, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations have asked the FDA to allow more time for pharmacists to comply with the track and trace requirements for “dispensers.”

Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that the spread of polio presents an international public health emergency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory to clinicians regarding vaccinations.

Pharmacists who contacted high-risk patients within 72 hours of discharge from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, found more than half of the patients had medication-related issues. In a different group of high-risk patients who had received inpatient interventions, 35% of patients were found to have issues after a pharmacist reviewed their medications just prior to discharge, according to Laura Carr, PharmD.

Pharmacists who contacted high-risk patients within 72 hours of discharge from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, found more than half of the patients had medication-related issues. In a different group of high-risk patients who had received inpatient interventions, 35% of patients were found to have issues after a pharmacist reviewed their medications just prior to discharge, according to Laura Carr, PharmD.

Poor transitions in care cost the U.S. healthcare system $45 billion in 2011. Of the 1.5 million medication errors that harm patients each year, approximately 60% occur during transitions of care, according to Stephanie Kleyman, PharmD, who spoke about opportunities for pharmacists in transitions of care at the 2014 American Pharmacists Association annual meeting in Orlando.